People who are being assessed for sleep apnea can usually sleep very well with the home sleep test although the monitoring equipment may feel uncomfortable or strange at first. Your doctor might recommend that you complete home sleep testing if there is some suspicion that you are suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. Your doctor might request that you refrain from napping on the day of the study. You may also be told to avoid caffeine after noon and avoid smoking at all. Patients are also recommended to take their medications and function as they would normally.
What is involved in home sleep testing?
Home sleep testing is basically a modified, portable version of the test conducted in a sleep lab. The test is fairly straightforward and involves only four steps. First, you need to place a belt around your midsection. Then, attach the clip to your finger. Place the airflow sensor beneath your nose. Finally, you need to turn the machine on and go about your activities as you normally would.
The equipment will be shipped to your home (with an included return shipping label). Our trained sleep specialists will analyze the data from the tests and contact you within a few days to discuss the results.